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JOEL JULIEN
An "urgent assess-
ment" of all of this
country s court facilities
is needed to ensure
compliance with "the
appropriate standards of
safety and security," a
High Court judge has
said.
Justice Ronnie
Boodoosingh made the
statement as he handed
down a judgment on
May 19 in favour of a
police officer who was
injured on three separate
occasions during the
course of his duties at the
San Fernando Magis-
trates Court.
Bunny Kameel Ali
sued the State as a result
of his injuries.
"The State must do its
part to ensure that no
one is injured in future
as a result of a failure to
take reasonable steps to
ensure the safety and
security of those who use
our judicial buildings,"
Boodoosingh stated in his
judgment.
Ali, who became a
policeman in 1982, was
transferred to the Court
and Process Branch of
the Police Service in 2008
and was assigned to the
San Fernando Magis-
trates Court. On October
5, 2009, Ali reported to
work.
"The complement of
staff included one ser-
geant, one corporal and
nine constables," the
judgment stated. "The
usual or regular number
of officers assigned from
(Ali s) experience to the
San Fernando Magis-
trates Court would be
one sergeant, two corpo-
rals and 17 constables," it
stated.
As a result of the
shortage of police offi-
cers, Ali and another
constable had to super-
vise 12 prisoners in the
holding cell. The list of
prisoners for that day
included people charged
with murder, rape, armed
robbery, drug offences
and wounding.
"While they were in
the holding cell six pris-
oners began attacking
another prisoner named
David Bobb. The way the
cell is designed is that
the cell is in the down-
stairs area of the court.
There is a step which
leads into the courtroom
in question up which the
prisoners are escorted to
a cage in the courtroom.
This incident occurred
in the presence of the sit-
ting magistrate and
members of the public in
court," Boodoosingh s
judgment stated.
"While (Ali) was
attempting to restrain the
prisoners from causing
further harm to Bobb,
and in carrying out his
duties, Bobb ran behind
(Ali) and held on to (his)
shoulder and used him
as a shield to escape fur-
ther attack," it stated.
The six prisoners
jumped on Ali. Ali was
eventually taken to the
San Fernando General
Hospital.
The six prisoners were
charged and found guilty
of assaulting Ali.
Ali was placed on
exemption from outdoor
duties and was referred
to a physiotherapist.
On December 28,
2009, while Ali was
assisting another police
officer in placing prison-
ers in the cell block a
fight broke out.
While trying to part
the prisoners Ali received
further blows to his lower
back and his injuries were
aggravated.
Ali received "various
periods of injury leave
over an extended period
of time."
On October 11, 2011,
Ali was back at work and
while he was assisting a
fellow officer to "force-
fully remove a prisoner
from a cell who was
being assaulted by other
prisoners," he felt a
"piercing pain to his
lower back which ran
down to both of his legs."
Ali sued the State for
"negligence."
"(Ali) said on the dates
of the first and second
incidents the prisoners
were brought and placed
inside of the holding cells
without handcuffs.
He noted when riots
occur, the Guard and
Emergency Branch of the
Police Service is respon-
sible for bringing the sit-
uation under control.
They have to be called
upon in a process which
involves getting autho-
risation from a senior
police officer," the judg-
ment stated. Ali said all
he received was "first aid
and self defence training"
when he joined the Police
Service.
Boodoosingh said the
"lack of training oppor-
tunities" for Ali to devel-
op his skills in prisoner
management "left him
unprepared."
The state s "sole wit-
ness" in the matter, cor-
poral Kassiram Lutch-
man, described the San
Fernando Magistrates
Court cell block "as one
of the most violent in the
country."
The State has to pay
damages to Ali.
Those damages are to
be assessed before a
Master of the Court.
Ali was represented by
Jagdeo Singh, Michael
Rooplal and Saira
Lakhan.
The State was repre-
sented by Tinuke Gib-
bons-Glenn and Stefan
Jaikaran and instructed
by Nisa Simmons.
A10
news
Sunday Guardian www.guardian.co.tt May 29, 2016
ST CLAIRE
Ask St Claire for three fa-
impossible. Say 9 Hail
Jesus be praised, adored,
and everyday throughout
Amen.
-
-
ble it may seem.
Thank you St. Claire.D.B.
0529020
State to pay cop damages
for injuries sustained in court
...authorities must comply with safety, security standards---judge